Eyewear

ABSTRACT

Novel eyewear are disclosed which comprise a lens and a sealing frame. The lens is adapted to cover at least one of a user&#39;s eyes. The frame has an adhesive side and is disposed adjacent the perimeter of the lens. A first portion of the adhesive side is disposed at the perimeter of the lens forming a seal between the frame and the lens. A second portion of the adhesive side extends laterally beyond the perimeter of said lens to provide adhesive attachment of the eyewear to the face of the user.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to eyewear, specifically to goggles and eyeshields, that provide protection and/or vision enhancement, particularlywhere a closely conforming, flexible material contacts the areasurrounding the eye for the purpose of sealing a lens or shield againstthe wearer's face for activities such as swimming. The eyewear can alsobe used in medical applications for protection against exposure to bodyfluids, or in recreational applications such as sunglasses.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Goggles are commonly used to keep a user's eyes isolated from thesurrounding atmosphere. For example, swimming goggles are utilized toprotect the eyes from water. Other goggles, such as protective goggles,prevent exposure of the users eyes to toxins or contaminated material,such as blood or eye irritants. Goggles may also be used to protect theeyes from harmful or undesirable environmental conditions, such as coldor dry air or sand or dust in the air. Goggles may also be used toretain a particular fluid or gas in contact with the user's eyes orface.

Generally speaking, eye goggle designs employ soft, spongy materialbetween the area surrounding a user's eyes and the perimeter of thegoggle lens and a head strap to hold the goggles in place against thewearer's face. For example, traditional swimming goggles seal eacheyepiece or lens against the face in a water tight manner by the elasticforce of a head strap pulling the eyepiece against the face, and suctionforces created during the fitting of the goggles onto the user's face,leaving negative pressure inside the eyepiece.

It is well known in the art that these forces create pressure points anda certain amount of discomfort in exchange for a water-tight fit.Greater forces generally impart greater discomfort, but also a moresecure fit against leakage.

Traditional, strap-type swimming goggles can slip off of the wearer'sface during diving or flip-turns where the wearer is moving at highervelocity through the water than when simply swimming. It would bedesirable to have goggles that provide a more secure fit and a lowprofile to reduce drag and that will remain in place on the user's face.In medical applications, the wearer being an EMT, surgeon or other typeof health care provider, would benefit from a disposable, inexpensiveeye shield that not only protects the wearer from fluid exposure, butalso the patient from possible contamination of sweat dripping from thehealth care worker onto or into the patient.

Thus, it is desirable to develop a goggle design that provides asubstantially water-tight seal for a user's eyes that eliminates orreduces the need for straps or elastic bands or requirements foradditional forces to retain the goggles in place over the user's eyes.

It is also desirable to develop a face or eye shield design thatprovides isolation of a user's eyes or face that eliminates or reducesthe need for straps or elastic bands or the requirement for additionalforces to retain the face or eye shield in place over the user's face oreyes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of this invention is to provide an economical yet preciselymade, preferably optically clear eyewear such as goggles which extendsbroadly the range of comfortable fit for a user requiring closelyconforming eye protection.

The present invention provides eyewear for protection of a user's eyesand isolation thereof from the outside environment. The eyeweargenerally comprises two components, namely a lens and a sealing frame.The lens is adapted to cover at least one of a user's eyes. The sealingframe has an adhesive side, which is disposed along the perimeter ofsaid lens. A first portion of the sealing frame adhesive side isdisposed at the perimeter of said lens forming a substantially airtightor watertight seal between said frame and said lens. A second portion ofsealing frame adhesive side extends from said first portion laterallybeyond the perimeter of said lens. The second portion provides a meansfor forming a substantially airtight or watertight seal between thesealing frame and at least a portion of the users face adjacent theperimeter of said lens.

In a preferred embodiment, the interior side of the lens has a fogresistant coating. In another preferred embodiment, the lens has UVprotection incorporated therein or thereon. The exterior side of thelens may optionally have a water-shedding coating.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of eyewear according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of eyewear according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of eyewear according to the presentinvention along line 3—3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 a is a partial, magnified cross section of an end of the eyewear3 a in FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of eyewear according to the presentinvention in cross section.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of eyewear according to the present invention

FIG. 6 is a pictorial cross section of eyewear according to the presentinvention as worn by a user.

FIG. 7 is an illustrative view of eyewear according to the presentinvention as partially packaged with a backing layer.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of an alternative embodiment of eyewearaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 9 an exploded view of an alternative embodiment of eyewearaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of eyewearaccording to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIGS. 1 and 2 show eyewear 10 in accordance with the present invention.Eyewear 10 generally provides protection to the eyes of a user duringuse by isolating the user's eyes from the outside environment. In analternative embodiment, this eyewear can be used to retain a particularfluid or gas in contact with the user's eyes or face.

The eyewear 10 generally comprises two components, namely a lens 12 anda frame 14. The lens 12 is adapted to cover at least one of a user'seyes. At least a portion, and preferably the entire lens 12 istransparent. In an alternative embodiment, however, the lens is opaque,thereby preventing all visible light from passing through the lens tothe user's eyes. The lens material may be flexible, semi-rigid or rigidin nature. If the lens material is semi-rigid or rigid, the contour ofthe lens should generally conform to the shape and contours of theuser's face. This is particularly desirable around the user's eyes toaccommodate the users eyes behind the lens and away from the environmentfrom which protection is desirable. The lens material, however, isflexible in nature, thereby allowing the lens 12 to conform to the shapeand contours of a user's face around the user's eyes. This provides forgreater freedom from a manufacturing perspective to the extent that auniform lens can be manufactured from a flexible material for a segmentof user's, thereby averting the need to customize the lens for each usersince the lens will conform to the contours of user's face duringapplication of the eyewear onto the user's face.

Suitable materials for the lens include polyvinyl chloride (PVC),acrylics, polyester film, such as Mylar (commercially available fromDupont), and polystyrene including general-purpose polystyrene and highimpact polystyrene. The lens material can be virtually any type ofmaterial that can be designed to fit and generally conform to the shapeof the user's face and around the user's eye socket. The lens materialis preferably a transparent, plastic material. In one embodiment, thematerial is a thin film of transparent, flexible plastic material thatis sized such that the perimeter of the lens runs along the contours ofthe user's face beyond the user's eye sockets to fit outside the user'sorbit.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, lens material comprises aclear plastic material such as 2 mil thick polystyrene. The lensmaterial may be coated to resist fogging as well as protect against UVpenetration. Also, the exterior of the lens preferably has awater-shedding coating, which is particularly useful in an embodimentfor use as a swim goggle.

The frame 14 of the eyewear 10 has an adhesive side 16, which isdisposed adjacent or runs generally along the perimeter 18 of the lens12. A first portion of the frame adhesive side is disposed at theperimeter of said lens forming a substantially airtight or watertightseal between said frame and said lens. A second portion of sealing frameadhesive side extends from said first portion laterally beyond theperimeter of said lens. The second portion provides a means for forminga substantially airtight or watertight seal between the sealing frameand at least a portion of the user's face adjacent the perimeter of saidlens.

Suitable material for the frame 14 is a flexible, compliant, preferablyelastic material that will conform to the contours of the user's face.The frame material will have an adhesive characteristic on at least theportion defining the adhesive side 16. Thus, the frame may compriseflexible, compliant adhesive material which possesses the desirableadhesive properties or may comprise flexible, compliant material towhich has been applied an adhesive substance providing the adhesiveproperties. Such materials are well known in the art.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the frame material comprisesa hypoallergenic material such as 3M Corporation's Medical SpecialtiesHealth care division's product number 1526, being a 3.6 mil thick,transparent, polyethylene film, coated on one side with a hypoallergenicpressure sensitive acrylate adhesive. The tape is supplied on apolyethylene-coated, bleached Kraft paper liner, with a basis weight of63 pounds, silicone coated one side, which has a nominal caliper of 4.9mil. According to 3M product clinical data summaries for safety testing,the 1526 material has been subjected to the safety tests that provideadequate hypoallergenic properties.

In FIGS. 3 and 3 a, frame 14 is shown disposed adjacent lens 12 andadhesively attached thereto particularly along perimeter 18 of lens 12.As seen in FIG. 3 a, frame end 114 overlays lens end 112 such that theframe end 114 extends beyond perimeter 18 of lens 12. As describedpreviously, frame 14 has an adhesive side that provides assembly of theeyewear 10 along a first portion 130 of frame 14. Further, the adhesiveside 16 of frame 14 provides a means of adhesive attachment to the faceof a user, preferably in a releasable manner, along a second portion 132of frame 14. Although the construction of the eyewear is illustratedherein as provided by adhesive attachment between the frame and lens,any means of attachment between the frame and lens in the first portionof the frame that is known in the art can be utilized for suchconstruction. This would include laser bonding, melt bonding or pressurebonding. Irrespective of the means of construction, the frame shouldhave an adhesive or tacky material along the second portion thereof toprovide preferably releasable attachment to a wearer's face.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the frame material comprisesa hypoallergenic material such as 3M Corporation's Medical SpecialtiesHealth care division's product number 1526 provides release from thewearer's face with little or no discomfort. According to 3M producttesting, the 1526 material exhibits the following material properties:

-   (1) Adhesion to steel: Minimum 850 g/25 mm 30 oz/in (8.33 N/25 mm)-   (2) Liner release: Maximum 50 g (0.49 N)/25 mm-   (3) Tape caliper w/o liner: 5.0 mils–1.0 mil-   (4) Product as specified above in 1–3 as supplied in original    packaging, will maintain stated test properties for a period of 2    years, when stored at a temperature between 50–80 degrees F. and a    relative humidity between 40–60 percent.

In FIG. 4 is shown again lens 12 and frame 14 which generally make upthe novel eyewear of the present invention. Frame 14 overlays lens 12where adhesive side of the frame 14 is attached or secured to lens 12 atfirst portion 30 and partially exposed at second portion 32 to secure toa user's face. Frame 14 generally runs along perimeter 18 of lens 12. Inaddition to providing adhesive means for preferably releasableattachment to a user's face, second portion 32 provides for releasableattachment to a backing layer prior to usage by a user. During assemblyof the eyewear 10, and also afterwards during storage, second portion 32of frame 14 provides releasable attachment to a material such as abacking layer.

Tab 50 is an appendage upon which can be placed a logo or otheridentifying indicia. Tab 50 provides more importantly a portion of frame40 from which a user can grasp to remove the eyewear assembly from thebacking layer used during storage or from the user's face once the useris done using the eyewear and wants to dispose of the eyewear. Thus, tab50 provides for easy removal from backing paper and for placement ofinsignia or logo.

FIG. 5 generally shows the construction of eyewear 10. Eyewear 10generally comprises a two-piece construction comprising lens 12 andframe 14, where lens 14 overlays lens 12 generally along the perimeter18 of lens 12. As described previously, a first portion 30 providessubstantially airtight or watertight seal to lens 12 and second portion32 extends beyond perimeter 18 of lens 12.

FIG. 6 shows the eyewear 10 in use. Lens 12 covers a wearer's eye. Frame14 comprising first portion 30 and second portion 32 runs alongperimeter 18 of lens 12. First portion 30 provides suitable attachmentto lens 12 while second portion 32 extend beyond perimeter 18 andpreferably beyond any facial hair of the wearer such as the eyebrows tosecure to wearer's skin in a releasable fashion. FIG. 6 also illustrateshow frame 12 follows the contours of the wearer's face particularlyalong the bridge of the nose.

FIG. 7 generally illustrates how the eyewear 10 could be packaged foruse by a wearer. The eyewear assembly comprising lens 12 and frame 14can be positioned on a backing layer 80 during storage and transportwhereby second portion 32 provides releasable attachment to backing 80.Tab 50 provides an appendage from which a wearer can remove eyewear 10from backing 80.

Backing 80 can be any suitable material that is complimentary toadhesive side 16 of frame 14 to provide releasable attachment of theeyewear to backing 80. Polyethylene coated, bleached Kraft paper liner,preferably with a basis weight of 63 pounds, silicone coated one side,which has a nominal caliper of 4.9 mil is a suitable material.

The user, after opening the packaging (not shown), removes the assembledeyewear 10 and applies it directly to their face, covering their eyes.

FIG. 8 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the novel eyewear.Eyewear 210 comprises lens 212 and frame 214 having a perimeter 218.Frame 214 have a plurality of notches 220 that provide betterarrangement of eyewear around the contours of a user's face. Thegeometry of the frame 214 allows for easier manufacturing of the eyewear210. For ease of manufacture, eyewear 210 is made of generally flatmaterials. The generally flat assembly in order to more readily conformto the user's facial structure incorporates a plurality of notches 220to aid in conforming to the contours of a wearer's face. For example, asthe frame 214 and lens 212 conforms to the contours of a wearer's facearound the nose of the wearer, the tips or points of the facets at thenose area move closer together as they follow the projected curvature ofthe nose. Without the facets, lens 214 would buckle, folding ontoitself, creating the potential for leaks as well as increasing dragagainst water in competitive swimming events. Just as in previousembodiments, frame 214 runs along perimeter 218 of lens 212.

FIG. 9 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the novel eyewear. Thisalternative embodiment could be useful for medical application as aprotective splash shield from bodily fluids. The lens 312 is oversizedand extends horizontally to the user's temple and vertically, well abovethe brow line. The frame 314 runs along a lower half of the perimeter318 of lens 312, leaving the upper half of this eyewear embodiment opento the environment. The frame has first and second portions that adhere,respectively, to the lens along the perimeter and the cheek and nose ofthe user on a lower half of the eyewear. This allows for free airmovement between the lens 312 and the user's face along the top portionof the alternative embodiment. The free exchange of air ensures that nofog will form on the inside of the lens 312 to ensure maximum visibilityfor the health care worker.

FIG. 10 illustrates another alternative embodiment of the novel eyewear.In this alternative embodiment, the eyewear includes lens 412 and frame414 and further comprises nose pad 460. Frame 414 runs along perimeter418 of lens 412 in an upper half of same. Nose pad 460 is a materialcomprising a ¼ in thick, high grade, non-toxic, non-skin irritating,vinyl foam material such as Gaska Tape, Inc.'s product MC2010-NA, whichprovides a cushioned support of the lens 412 on the wearer's faceadjacent the bridge of the nose. In a preferred embodiment of thealternative invention, the lens 412 material comprises a 5 mil polyesterfilm, such as Dupont's Mylar brand product with UV protective propertiesand tinting for glare reduction.

Partial frame 414 adheres to the temple and brow line of the userallowing for free air movement between the lens 412 and the user's facealong the lower portion of the alternative embodiment. The free exchangeof air ensures that no fog will form on the inside of the lens 412 toensure maximum visibility for the user. The seal created along the browline by the partial frame 414 also ensures that during activity as theuser sweats the sweat will be shielded from the eyes and it cannot passbetween the frame 414, the lens 412 and the user. Frame 412 includes atab 450.

In the case of infants and smaller children or during aggressive sports,the adhesive properties of the frame ensures that the eyewear stays inplace and provide consistent UV protection, where traditional glassescan easily fall off during activity. In a medical application fortreatment of jaundice in infants using UV light to reduce bilirubinamounts where the lens is opaque to protect the eyes from the sun lampused to cure such condition.

Manufacturing Process

Materials

Sealing frame material is preferably a medical grade, plastic,conformable adhesive tape that is coated with a hypoallergenic, pressuresensitive adhesive. Exposed, non-adhesive side is capable of acceptingprinting for graphic and text treatments. The adhesive is applied duringtape manufacture by the tape maker, such as 3M Corporation. In apreferred embodiment of the invention, frame material comprises ahypoallergenic material such as 3M Corporation's Medical SpecialtiesHealth care division's product number 1526, being a 3.6 mil thick,transparent, polyethylene film, coated on one side with a hypoallergenicpressure sensitive acrylate adhesive. The tape is supplied on apolyethylene coated, bleached Kraft paper liner, with a basis weight of63 pounds, silicone coated one side, which has a nominal caliper of 4.9mil. According to 3M product clinical data summaries for safety testing,the 1526 material has been subjected to suitable safety tests.

Lens material is preferably a plastic, semi-rigid, conformable,transparent material that can be clear or tinted. Lens material can betreated so that the interior will resist fogging as well as the exteriortreated to reduce or eliminate the passage of ultraviolet light.

The assembled sealing frame and lens is mounted to a release backing 80,which is removed and disposed of by the wearer prior to placement ontheir face. The tape is supplied on a polyethylene coated, bleachedKraft paper liner, with a basis weight of 63 pounds, silicone coated oneside, which has a nominal caliper of 4.9 mil.

The entire assembly is enclosed within a thin, waxed paper package (notshown) to protect the product during shipment.

Production Process

The sealing frame and lens materials can be cut to net shape using a CNCknife plotter or using a die cutting process, (hereinafter referred togenerically as a cutting machine). In either case, the base material issupplied in rolls with pin-fed registration holes along each edgelengthways. The material is fed into the cutting machine at a controlledrate where multiple segments are cut progressively or simultaneously.Once cut the web or waste material is removed and disposed of orrecycled. The lens and sealing frame components are assembled by placingthe lens onto the sealing frame such that the adhesive on the sealingframe overlaps onto the lens border causing a bond between thematerials; however, as described previously, the frame material extendslaterally beyond the edge of the lens material to provide adhesive meansfor preferably releasable attachment to the wearer's face. Onceassembled a release backing is applied, the finished assembly is thenpackaged for individual sale.

Construction means via converting the base materials, which are suppliedin rolls are as follows. First slitting the base materials into nominalwidths providing ample area to nest the finished shaped parts within.Net shape of the finished parts is achieved through automated rotary orsteel rule die cutting operations where the lens is cut free from thebase material web and the frame is kiss cut where the web is removedfrom the Kraft backing leaving the frame on the backing. Lens and frameare roll joined, printed, packaged and cut down into individualpackages.

1. Eyewear comprising: a lens adapted to cover at least one of a user'seyes; and a sealing frame having an adhesive side, said frame disposedadjacent the perimeter of said lens, wherein a first portion of saidadhesive side is disposed at the perimeter of said lens forming a sealbetween said frame and said lens and a second portion of said adhesiveside extends laterally beyond the perimeter of said lens.
 2. The eyewearas claimed in claim 1 wherein said second portion provides a means forforming a substantially airtight and water tight seal between said frameand at least a portion of the user's face adjacent the perimeter of saidlens.
 3. The eyewear as claimed in claim 1, wherein said frame comprisesa flexible, compliant and optionally elastic material that is adapted toconform to a user's face along said second portion and an adhesivematerial defining said adhesive side of said frame.
 4. The eyewear asclaimed in claim 1, wherein lens comprises a flexible, transparentthermoplastic material.
 5. The eyewear as claimed in claim 1, whereinsaid lens comprises semi-rigid or rigid, transparent material and has acontour that conforms to the shape and contours of a user's faceadjacent the user's eyes.
 6. The eyewear as claimed in claim 1, whereinsaid lens contains at least one of an anti-fogging coating, UVprotection coating, and water-shedding coating.
 7. The eyewear asclaimed in claim 1, wherein said frame contains at least one notch. 8.Eyewear comprising: a) a lens adapted to cover at least one of a user'seyes; and b) a sealing frame adjacent the perimeter of the lens, saidframe comprising a compliant and resiliently deformable materialsuitable to conform to a user's face and forming a seal between theframe and at least a portion of the user's face along the perimeter ofthe lens; wherein said frame has an adhesive side disposed, in oneportion, adjacent the user's face and, in a second portion, extendslaterally beyond the perimeter of the lens adapted to releasably adhereto at least a portion of the user's face.
 9. The eyewear as claimed inclaim 8, wherein said second portion is adapted for forming asubstantially airtight and water tight seal between said frame and atleast a portion of a user's face adjacent the perimeter of said lens.10. The eyewear as claimed in claim 8, wherein said frame comprises aflexible, compliant and elastic material and an adhesive materialdefining said adhesive side of said frame.
 11. The eyewear as claimed inclaim 8, wherein said frame comprises flexible, compliant adhesivematerial.
 12. The eyewear as claimed in claim 8, wherein lens comprisesa flexible, transparent thermoplastic material.
 13. The eyewear asclaimed in claim 8, wherein said lens comprises semi-rigid or rigid,transparent material and has a contour that conforms to the shape andcontours of a user's face adjacent the user's eyes.
 14. The eyewear asclaimed in claim 8, wherein said lens contains at least one of ananti-fogging coating, UV protection coating, and water-shedding coating.15. Eyewear comprising: a) a sealing frame comprising a thin layer ofcompliant material and having opposed surfaces, an adhesive side; and b)a lens adapted to cover at least one of the user's eyes, wherein a firstportion of the frame is disposed along the perimeter of the lens and asecond portion of the frame extends beyond the perimeter of the lens andis adapted to conform to the shape of a user's face.
 16. The eyewear asclaimed in claim 15, wherein said frame is disposed along a lower halfof the perimeter of said lens.
 17. The eyewear as claimed in claim 15,wherein said frame is disposed along an upper half of the perimeter ofsaid lens.
 18. The eyewear as claimed in claim 15, wherein said framecomprises a compliant and resiliently deformable material adapted toconform to the user's face.
 19. The eyewear as claimed in claim 15,wherein said frame comprises a flexible, compliant and elastic materialand an adhesive material defining said adhesive side of said frame. 20.The eyewear as claimed in claim 15, wherein said frame comprisesflexible, compliant adhesive material.